Breaking the military men: how Rumsfeld won total command

The defence secretary reduced hardened generals to quivering wrecks in his single-minded drive to achieve complete control of the Iraq war, says Bob Woodward

When Donald Rumsfeld became America’s secretary for defence perhaps the most important member of his kitchen cabinet was Steve Herbits, then 59, a lawyer and longtime friend who became his unofficial eyes and ears in the Pentagon.

Herbits — who was also a gay rights activist and occasional contributor to Democratic candidates, and thus highly unusual among Republican defence experts — was known for his incisive, provocative, slashing dissections of personnel and institutions.

His style was unrestrained, as in a scathing four-page confidential memo to Rumsfeld in 2002 about the under-secretary for policy, Doug Feith, who was responsible for preparing a plan for reconstruction to follow the invasion of Iraq.

“After nearly two years Doug’s leadership has not improved,” Herbits wrote. “His style and approach to his job continue to produce a significantly under-performing team. His negatives continue to accumulate. Six months of post-Iraq planning is now widely regarded as a serious